Jordan Crossings Blog
Navigating the Waters of Faith & Mental Health
Tackling Life When It Feels Overwhelming
As I prepare to begin working on my Master’s degree again after a summer break, I look around my house at the piles of laundry. We’re out of laundry soap. The dishes are piled up. There’s no dishwasher detergent. I have no time to run to the store. I look at my calendar to see 3-4 items written on each day. Each evening and weekend is packed with kids and sports. Very quickly, my head was spinning, trying to figure out how this was all going to get done in addition to my schoolwork. Did I get to work on it all right away, tackling my massive to-do list? No. I sat there paralyzed, staring at my schedule, worrying about how it would all fit.
Three Truths When Lies Consume
Several weeks ago, during a string of rough days consumed by depression and anxiety, intrusive thoughts attacked my mind: You are weak, you are unloved, you are unworthy, just give up now. In their wake, they left behind a tear-stricken face and warped identity.
Don’t Believe Everything You Think
Just like the heart can sway and dictate our feelings, our thoughts can direct our actions. The words we speak, the people we avoid, and even the psychosomatic reactions of our own bodies. A few years ago, I hung a phrase up in a prominent spot in our home so that the whole family could be reminded regularly: “Don’t believe everything you think.”
Anxiety After Trauma
I heard the first cough through the baby monitor as I was going to bed. I had my book in my hands, ready to get lost in fiction for a little bit. I couldn’t open my book, not yet. My eyes were on the baby monitor, waiting to see if the cough continued. It was quiet for a few seconds. Those seconds turned into a minute, and I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The screen of the monitor went black, meaning no sounds or movement was detected.
How to Find Peace in the Midst of Anxiety
I got good, I mean really good at faking it on the outside. I’d flash my smile and laugh at all the right times throughout my day, yet lived crushed on the inside. Here I was trying to live for Jesus, yet all it took was one small trigger and the hordes of hell would unleash a ruthless, spine-crawling anxiousness over me.
Now Seeking Guest Blog Posts!
Are you a writer? Do you have a story to tell? I am currently looking for guest blog posts about personal experiences with mental health and recovery from a Christian perspective. Whether you have a message or a testimony to share, I’d like to hear it! Fill out the form below or contact Megan for more details: meganjean@jordancrossings.org
